Overhead lubricating supply apparatus



Nov.` 14, 1944.

- R. WEDEBERG OVERHEAD LUBRICATING SUPPLY APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 28, 194s Qmw.

Nov. 14, 1944. R. wEDl-:BERG

OVERHEAD LBRICATING SUPPLY APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Filed July 28, 1943 Patented Nov.'r1,4, 1944 OVERHEAD LUBRICATIN G SUPPLY APPARATUS Reuben Wedeberg, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Stewart-Warner Corpor corporation of Virginia v Application July 28, 1943, Serial No. 496,398

11 Claims.

My invention relates to overhead lubricating supply apparatus of the'kind particularly adapted for use in garages 'and automobile service stations It'is common to provide' a garage or service station with an overhead swivel mounted on the 'ceiling of a space adapted to receive a plurality ofautomobiles requiring lubrication. The swivel has a xed member which is connected by a rigid pipe line to a power driven lubricant compressor placed in some convenient location in the garage or service station. The movable element ofthe swivel is connected to a flexible hose having a control valve provided with a nozzle for attachment to the fittings orfnipples associated with the bearings of the automobile. In such prior installations it was common to make the swivel so that Iit could be rotated through a complete circle and to pack the joint between the relatively rotatable parts of the swivel'to prevent leakage therebetween. This prior art apparatus is expensive and has the further disadvantage of leaking lubricant wheneverthe packing Ybetween the rotatable and stationary members becomes worn or damaged.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overhead lubricating supply apparatus which is less expensive than the apparatus of the prior art,Y

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overhead lubricating supply apparatus whichrequires no packing between the movableand stationary parts thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overhead lubricating supply apparatus which may` be easily installed and which will operate satisfactorily'over long periods o f -time with minimum attention. V`Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of my invention showing my invention applied to the ceiling of a garage or service? station; Fig. 1a is a continuation of the right-hand end of Fig. 1;-

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on a reduced scale of ation, Chicago, Ill., a

ceiving screws I4 for attachingthe base I8 to the ceiling I6 of a garage or service station. The base I0 has an annular track I3 for support;v ing a cover, indicated generally by reference numeral 20, and this track |8 is supplied with lubricant through a nipple or iitting 22 communicating by duct 24 with the annular groove 26 surrounding the track I8.

The cover 2D is provided with supporting straps 28 secured to the annular flange 30 of the cover 20 by screws 32 or in any other suitable manner. The upper portions 34 of the straps 2 8 are bent over as indicated in the drawings and rest upon the track I8 with which they slidably engage to permitrotation of the cover 20 with respect to the base I0. Two of the straps 28 are provided with upstanding fingers 36 for limiting swiveling movement of the cover 2li in a manner r-hereinafter described. The exposed portion of the cover 20 may have an offset portion'38 to lincrease the attractiveness of this cover and may be given any suitable nish to enhance its appearance.

A pipe nipple 40 is threaded into the tapped opening in a boss 42 provided by the base l0 and is rmly secured thereto by a lock nut 44. One end of a rigid lubricant supply pipe 46 is attachedto the nipple 40 and the other end of this supply pipe is connected to a power operated lubricant compressor of lany suitable design and located in any convenient place in the garage or service station. This lubricant -compressor is usually provided with a lpresure operated cut-out vwhereby the compressor automatically maintains a predetermined pressure in the supplypipe 46.

A second nipple 48 isv screwed into the boss 42 and locked thereto by a lock nut 50. The other end of the nipple 48 is threaded into the upper end of a tubulai` member 52 and locked thereto by a lock nut 54. The lower end of the tubular member 52 is adapted to receive one threaded end of a pipe nipple 56, The other end of this pipe nipple is screwed into a metal coupler 58 on one end of a section of flexible hose, indicated generally by reference character 6U.

In the position of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the exible hose `extends diametrically across the cover 2U, through a tubular extension 64 forming an integral part of this cover, and into a tube 66 attached to this extension by means of a screw 68. This lend of `the .hosesection is provided with a ,second metal coupler 'l0 connected by a second pipe nipplev 'l2 to a cylindrical block 14. The block 14 is' slidable axially of the tube 66 and is provided with a longitudinal groove 18 receiving the end of a screw 80 which prevents rotation of the block 14 in the tube 88.

A rigid pipe 82 has one end screwed or otherwise secured into the block 14 and this block affords a passage connecting the interior of the pipe 82 with the conduit through the flexible hose 88. The pipe 82 is slidably guided in a reduced extension 84 attached to the end of the tube 88 and some distance beyond this extension 84. The pipe 82 is bent downwardly as indicated at .88.

" respects the modiiication of Fig. 4 may be identi- A coupling 88 is attached to the end of the pipe 88 and provides a means for attaching this pipe to a second flexible hose 90 which extends downwardly from the ceiling of the -garage or service station preferably between adjacent stalls adapted to receive automobiles requiring lubrication. The lower end of the flexible hose 90 is commonly provided with a control valve terminating in a quick detachable nozzle for creating a sealed connection between the control valve and the lubricant receiving nipples or fittings attached to the bearings of the automobile. A stand or other support is usually provided for this control valve although, if desired, it may simply hang from the pipe 88.

When my new and improved apparatus is being used to lubricate an automobile, the lubricant compressor maintains iiexible conduit 90 and all connections leading to this conduit filled with lubricant under the maximum pressure which the compressor is intended to provide. When the nozzle on the control valve attached to the discharge conduit 90 is applied to a lubricant receiving fitting and the control valve is opened, lubricant flows through pipe 48, nipples 48 and 48', tubular member 52, nipple 58, flexible conduit 80, nipple 12, block 14, pipe 82, and flexible conduit 90 into the bearing associated with this lubricant receiving fitting.

After this particular bearing has been adequately lubricated, the control valve is closed and the nozzle thereof is detached from that lubricant receiving fitting and applied to the lubricant receiving fitting on the next bearing to be lubricated. As the operator moves from bearing to bearing, the curved end of pipe 88 is moved to one side or the other of the central position indicated in the drawings. This causes the cover 20 to swivel about the base I8 in the appropriate direction and to the desired extent. In Fig. 2, the full line position shows one extreme movement of the cover 20. Swiveling movement of this cover is limited by engagement of one or the other of the upstanding ends 38 of the supporting straps 28 with the pipe nipple 48.

As the cover moves to one side of what I shall refer to as the normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, theeiiective length of the flexible conduit section 88 is reduced, thereby causing the block 14 and pipe 82 to slide to the left as viewed in Figs. l and 3. The tubular extension 84 is flared laterally in a smooth curve as indicated at 92 to prevent injury to the conduit 88. In the particular embodiment sho-wn, I have illustrated my apparatus as providing a maximum swiveling movement of the cover through' a total angle of approximately 240 or 120 to each side of the normal position. Any other swiveling movement within the range permitted by the flexible conduit 80, block 14 and pipe 82 may be provided by simply shifting the position of the straps having the upstanding ngers 38 and in some arrangements of these fingers it may be advisable to cal with that of Figs. 1, la, 2 and 3 except that the lubricant 22 may be eliminated. The rollers may be impregnated with graphite or other lubricant to reduce friction between these rollers and the screws |02.

In my new and improved apparatus, the section of flexible conduit 88 conducts the lubricant from the stationary part to the swiveled part of the apparatus, so that it is unnecessary to provide a sealed joint between the base I0 and cover 20. The section of flexible conduit 80 may be identical in size, length and other details with similar sections used for other purposes-and is relatively inexpensive. A considerable saving in expense is therefore effected by eliminating the sealed joint heretofore necessary between the stationary and movable parts of the swivel. I have found that where the base I0 is attachedto the ceiling, mid- Way both longitudinally and laterally of the space between adjacent stalls, a swiveling range of 240 is ample.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a new and improved overhead lul bricating supply apparatus which can be inex- 40 forms of my invention, it is susceptible of numerous other modifications` and variations and includes all modifications, variations and equivalents coming within the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Overhead lubricating supply apparatus of the class described, comprising a base to be adapted to be attached to a ceiling of a garage or service station and having a fixed lubricant inlet adapted to be connected to a source of lubricant under pressure, a cover, means for mounting said cover for rotation on said base, a tubular part provided by said cover, a block slidably mounted in said tubular part, a flexible hose connecting said block with said inlet, and a discharge conduit connected to said block.

2. Overhead lubricating supply apparatus of the class` described, comprising a base having a circular track and an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of lubricant under pressure, a swiveling member, means Vsupporting said member from said track, a block movable in said swiveling member, a section of flexible hose connecting said block with said inlet, and a discharge conduit connected to said block.

3. Overhead lubricating supply apparatus of the class described, comprising a base adapted to be attached to a fixed support and having an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of lubricant under pressure, a cover depending from said base, means supporting said cover from said base for swiveling movement 'relative thereto, a lubricant conducting member rigidly attached to said inlet and extending downwardly into said cover, tubular means rigid with said cover, a block slidably `mounted in said tubular means, a

`iiexible conduit connecting said block with the y lower end of said lubricant conducting member, a rigid pipe attached'to saidblock and a flexible discharge conduit connected `to said pipe.

4. Overhead lubricating supply apparatus of 'thelclass described, lcomprising a base providing a circular track and having a, rigid inlet adapted s to be rconnected to a source of lubricant underl pressure, means vfor lubricating said track, a cover depending from said base, a plurality of straps attached to said cover and having parts resting on said track, said cover having a tubular. extension rigid therewith, a. tubular block mounted in said extensionA for sliding movement therein,

means preventing rotation of said block relative y to said extension, a flexible hose connecting said block and inlet, and a discharge conduit connected to said block.

5. Overhead lubricating supply apparatus of the class described, comprising a base having a circular 'track surrounded by a lubricant rel ceiving groove, Ameans for supplying lubricant to said groove, said base beingprovided with an inlet adapted to bevattached to a source of lubri' f cant under pressure, rigid conduit means attached to said inlet and depending therefrom,

a cover for said base, means supporting said f cover from said track and permitting swiveling movement of saidl cover relative to said base,

lsaid means beingengageable with said inlet to limit'swiveling movement of saidcover, a'ilexible4 conduit having .one end attached to rsaid conduit means, means for 'slidably mounting the other end of said exible conduit relative to said cover, tosaid lastand a, discharge conduitconnected named means.

6. Overhead lubricating ysupply apparatus of the class described comprising a basehaving a track anda iixed lubricantconduit adapted to be connected to a'source of lubricant under pressure, means for attaching said base to a ceiling or other support, a swiveled member, means forsupporting said member from said track, vsaid member having a part for guiding a sliding block, a block slidably mounted ,in said guiding part, a

exible yconduit connecting said member with said rst-named conduit,said flexible conduitv 1ying in a, plane parallel to said ceiling, and a dis-r charge conduit connected to said sliding part.v

- '7. Overhead lubricating supply apparatus of the class described, comprising a base to be adapted to be attached toa ceiling of a garage or service station and having a fixed lubricant inlet adapted to loel connected to a source of lubricant under pressure, a cover, means for mounting said cover for rotation on said base, a tubularY part provided by said cover, a block f slidably mountedin said tubular part, a flexible hose connecting said block Withsaid inlet, a rigid discharge conduit connectedto said block, and a, guide attached to said tubular part and slidably receiving said last-named conduit.

l8.*Overheadlubricating supply apparatus of the classdescribed, comprising a base having a circular track and an inlet adapted to be conlnectedto av source of lubricant under pressure,

a swiveling member, roller` means supporting said member fromv said track, a lblock movable in said swiveling member, a section of flexible hose connecting said-block With said inlet, and a discharge conduit connected to saidblock.

9. Overhead lubricating supply apparatus of the rclass described, comprising a base adapted to be attached to afixe'd support and having an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of lubricant under pressure, a cover depending from vsaid base, means supporting said cover from said base for swiveling movement `relative thereto, a lubricant conducting member rigidly attached to said inlet and extending downwardly into said cover,` tubular means rigid with said cover,- a block slidably mounted in said tubular means, a iiexible conduit connecting said block with the lower end of said llubricant conducting member,

a rigid pipe attachedto said block and having a downwardly curved end, and a iiexible dis charge conduit connected to said end.

10. 'Overhead lubricatingsupply apparatus oi theclass described, comprising a base providing a circular track. `and having a rigid inlet adapted to be connected to a source of lubricant under pressure, means for lubricating said track, a cupshaped cover'depending from said base, a plurality ofy straps attached to said coverand having parts resting on said track, said cover having a tubularextension rigid therewith and iiaring thereinto alonga smooth curve, a tubular block mounted in said extension for sliding movement therein, means preventing yrotation of said block relative to saidy extension, a flexible hose connecting said block and inlet, and a discharge coni duit connected to said block.

11. Overhead lubricating supply apparatus of the class described, comprising a base having a track and a xed lubricant inlet adapted to be 

